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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 6d

Rival Tim Cartmell fired back at Walters, saying any suggestion that the city can mess with or hold back education tax money is "careless, misleading, and risks vital city funding." 4/4 #yeg #yegelxn

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 6d

Walters wants an "Edmonton Accord" to guarantee consultation:

"As Mayor, I would use every tool available — including what we do with Education Property Taxes that we collect on behalf of the Province — to advocate for what Edmonton needs and to stand up for Edmontonians." 3/4 #yeg #yegelxn

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 6d

The statement is a swing into provincial jurisdiction, and comes after Walters criticized the UCP government interfering in Edmonton's affairs without proper consultation. Nonetheless, Walters says it's fair game because a strike will have big impacts on the city and its residents. #yeg 2/4

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 6d

Edmonton mayoral candidate Michael Walters came out with a strong — and possibly controversial — statement today, supporting Alberta teachers and calling on the province to come to the table with a fair deal. #yeg #yegelxn #abed 1/4

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 7d

It's not a definitive list of course. Several controversial decisions didn't make the final cut of 12, including mosquito spraying, public spaces bylaw, equalizing rental and non-rental tax rates, police commission appointments, the gondola, district plans, south LRT funding, etc. #yegelxn #yeg

Keith Gerein: A dozen key votes that characterized the 2021-2025 Edmonton city council

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 7d

For those still weighing their voting intentions on Edmonton incumbents, this look back at council's record of decisions over the past four years may help a bit. ...
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu... via
@edmontonjournal
#yeg #yegelxn #yegcc

Edmonton city council was known for a number of key votes on taxes, infrastructure, funding for Edmonton police and infill regulations

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

It is also an assessment limited to how they performed in council chambers, not the work in their constituencies which often takes place outside of public view. Happy to hear your takes. #yeg #yegelxn 8/8

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

Also remember that my column is an assessment of the group, not individual councillors. Each councillor has their own record of motions, votes and advocacy that voters should take into account because it doesn’t always match up to the narrative of the whole. #yeg #yegelxn 7/

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

They had serious tensions with the province, but also scored a few big wins with the UCP government.

They were at times a divisive group, more than we’ve seen from past councils, and yet the tensions were nowhere near as high as we often see in other major cities. #yeg #yegelxn 6/

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

They were seen as opponents of the police, but also gave EPS regular, stable funding increases that is the envy of every other city service.

They were characterized as being too labour friendly but also played hardball with CSU 52 that almost led to a strike. #yeg #yegelxn 5/

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

It was also a council of contradictions that was perhaps misunderstood a little.

As an example, the group was characterized as too progressive at times, but they were also very pro-development. #yeg #yegelxn 4/

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

However, the last 12 to 18 months have shown notable improvement. It's a group that I think started to find their feet a bit better, to overcome their political inexperience, at least in some areas. Voters will have to decide if it’s too little, too late. #yeg #yegelxn 3/

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

Keeping in mind that hindsight is an unfair lens, in general I would say it’s a group that was dealt an extraordinarily bad hand — politically, socially, financially — but were also really slow and resistant to the need to pivot. #yeg #yegelexn 2/

Keith Gerein: Edmonton city council couldn't catch a break, but they also didn't make many of their own

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 11d

Readers have been asking for my final assessment of city council to help them with their voting choices, so here it is. Along with a short thread.

There’s a lot to unpack from the past four years, more than I can cram into a single column. #yeg #yegelxn

edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

Edmonton city council couldn't catch a break but they also didn't make many in the last term, a record that voters are weighing in the 2025 Edmonton election

Adviser on Alberta’s use of private clinics was also working for company vying for contract, confidential report says

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Reposted by Keith Gerein

Carrie Tait @carrietait.bsky.social · 14d

SCOOP: A consultant advising Alberta Health Services on private surgical facilities simultaneously negotiated with AHS on behalf of a company vying to open such a clinic, according to a confidential report obtained by The Globe.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...

Potential conflicts of interest outlined in document at centre of health procurement controversy

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 15d

Pity the 94 people who have stepped up to run for council in Edmonton's civic election. Will their efforts even matter, when the interfering UCP government keeps threatening to run everything itself. #yeg #yegcc #yegelxn
edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...

'Back to basics': Alberta to limit municipal property tax increases, eliminate conflicts

Premier Danielle Smith has tasked her municipal affairs minister with eliminating municipal conflicts, and limiting property tax increases.

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

Anyway, that’s my take on it. Hopefully there will be at least a couple more of these debates, because after each one, I think voters get more clarity about who will best represent them at city hall. #yeg #yegelxn 19/19

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

The other three said that would be way too expensive for the city, insisting that the province had to step up. Then they argued about which of them would be best suited to improve relations with the Smith government. #yeg #yegelxn 18/19

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

While Knack differs from his opponents on how to handle taxes and growth, probably the most interesting disagreement of the event was focused on his belief that the city needs to take a much more active role in fighting homelessness rather than waiting for the province to do it. #yeg #yegelxn 17/19

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Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

Overall, Knack was fine. His temperament and approach never really change, and he always has a deep institutional knowledge to draw on, which is a weapon. #yeg #yegelxn 16/19

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

On that same topic, Knack gave his most intriguing answer of the event when he suggested creating a funding formula — similar to what Edmonton police get — for the wider community safety and well being ecosystem. (Essentially annual increases tied to inflation & population growth). #yegelxn 15/19

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

Cartmell also spoke well about wanting to use data to help social services become more effective, while also providing predictable, stable funding and less red tape for agencies. #yeg #yegelxn 14/19

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

He was also much improved (and had more opportunity) at fending off Jaffer’s jabs about his council record. And he pushed back effectively on Jaffer’s financial plan, which he essentially characterized as a fantasy that would create a $870-million hole in the city budget. #yeg #yegelxn 13/19

Keith Gerein @keithgerein.bsky.social · 20d

Now to Cartmell, who I think was much better in this debate. He was more relaxed, funny at times, and spoke genuinely about his respect for social service agencies and the arts community. He promised to bring back the Mayor’s Night of the Arts and host it in Churchill Square. #yeg #yegelxn 12/19